Full dress tunic : Lieutenant General Sir J Monash, Australian Army

Scarlet superfine wool dress tunic with black superfine stand collar and slash cuffs. The collar has 20 mm wide 'general officer oak leaf pattern' gold lace around the edges and is fastened by two brass hooks and eyes. White piping trim is around the top of the collar, along both front panels, around the slash cuffs and the sword flaps. The collar is lined with white cotton sateen and a small white fabric tab fits behind the fastening.

The tunic is secured along the singled breasted front with eight large gilt 'AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES' (AMF) buttons made by 'STOKES & SONS MELBOURNE'. There are ten embroidered eyes stitched on the left front to take medals and decorations. Gold shoulder cords of plaited wire basket cord with small gold gimp down the centre strap onto the shoulder with scarlet tabs. The base of the shoulder cord is navy wool with a brass slide attached to the base.

Rank badges of a general - crossed sword and baton; gold bullion star and gold bullion with maroon velvet crown are stitched to the shoulder cord, and a small button screws the shoulder cord to the tunic. The cuffs are trimmed with two rows of wide gold oak leaf lace and black wool. The three pointed flap is trimmed with white wool piping, gold lace and three gilt general staff buttons.

The back sword flap and vent are also trimmed with gold lace, white piping and three large gilt AMF buttons down each side. There are two large buttons along the waistband. The tunic is lined on the sleeves and upper body with fawn coloured quilted silk/cotton twill. The lining fabric on the skirts is white cotton sateen. Makers label is stitched on the rear lining under the collar, 'HAIGH BROTHERS PTY LTD/227 COLLINS ST MELBOURNE'. Handwritten in black ink is 'GENERAL SIR JOHN MONASH'.

John Monash was born in Melbourne on 27 June 1865. He was dux of Scotch College and studied arts and engineering at Melbourne University, where he was also involved in debating and student politics. Outside of university he dabbled in acting. In 1884 he joined the university company of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles.

Monash finished his studies in 1895 and, having decided to combine engineering with a military career, was promoted to captain in the Garrison Artillery that year. In 1897 Monash was promoted to major in the North Melbourne Battery and served there for 11 years.

Monash was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Australian Intelligence Corps in 1908. In 1913 he took command of the 13th Infantry Brigade.

After the outbreak of war, Monash took command of the AIF's 4th Infantry Brigade, landing at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915. In July he was promoted to brigadier. Monash took his brigade to France in June 1916. He became a major general in July and took command of the 3rd Division. The division's first major battle, Messines, was hailed as a great success. Further success followed and in May 1918, Monash was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the Australian Corps. His first battle in this role, Hamel, came to be considered the 'perfect battle'. Monash remained in command through the victorious battles in the last months of the war.

After spending eight months in London overseeing the repatriation of the AIF, Monash was welcomed home in Melbourne by an enthusiastic public on Boxing Day 1919. He returned to business and in 1920 became manager of Victoria's State Electricity Commission. An advocate for returned soldiers, Monash also held a range of high-level positions. His opinions were widely sought and he became a leading figure in Melbourne's Jewish community.

Monash died of heart disease in Melbourne on 8 October 1931 and was given a state funeral attended by some 250,000 mourners.